Hard to believe we're already rolling into the middle of May, which means summer is just around the corner! Apple is going to make it a more secure season for its Apple ID users with two-step verification now going worldwide, while a new study finds that there's an awful lot of us averse to turning off our gadgets when it comes time to fly. Think about that before you step onto your next plane to head out on vacation, folks...

Apple Begins Two-Step Verification Rollout Worldwide

As noted by 9to5Mac on Friday, Apple has begun a worldwide rollout of its two-step verification for Apple IDs, which launched in the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand in late March. After the site received tips from readers in Argentina, Canada and Pakistan that the security feature was now available in those countries, the service began rolling out to Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Russia as well, suggesting a global launch. With two-step verification, an iOS device such as the iPhone becomes a "trusted" device which will be required to receive a verification code before making changes on an Apple ID account.

Amazon Debuts Cloud Drive Photos App for iPhone

Amazon is looking for new ways to tap into the 5GB of free cloud storage they give every customer with the introduction of a free Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app for iPhone. Simply install and open the app and you'll have the choice of automatically uploading all photos taken on the device, or alternatively pushing photos from the desktop onto Cloud Drive to enjoy from your handset as well. The only thing that seems to be missing is native support for the iPad, but typically Amazon adds that with an eventual update, so if you've been looking to fill up that free Cloud Drive space with something, this isn't a bad way to do it.

Not a Surprise: Survey Reveals Many Flyers Don't Turn Off Electronics

The New York Times' Bits blog is reporting that upwards of 30 percent of air travelers have left electronic devices on during takeoff or landing, with another four percent "unsure" if they ever have. Part of the same survey by travel industry groups Airline Passenger Experience Association and the Consumer Electronics Association also revealed that 21 percent of those polled switch their devices into airplane mode rather than turning them off completely, as 59 percent claim to do. The study is part of an ongoing controversy over whether electronic devices actually affect planes during takeoff or landing, a debate currently raging within the walls of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Echofon for Mac Returns from the Dead

Color us surprised: TUAW reported Saturday that naan studio's Twitter client Echofon for Mac has made a return to the Mac App Store, updated to support the latest 1.1 API for the microblogging service. As we reported back in October, the developer made the decision to abandon the Mac to focus on its mobile products, a decision the company now appears to have reversed following "overwhelming user demand." While many of us have since found other cross-platform solutions like TweetBot capable of syncing between devices, the news will likely be good for those who stuck it out with Echofon -- although at the moment, the Mac app appears to only be offered from the Mac App Store, so those who paid for the ad-free version direct from the developer may be looking at paying out $9.99 all over again…

Nokia Finally Unveils Verizon-Bound Lumia 928

It's been widely rumored for weeks, and now the Conversations by Nokia blog officially announced the Lumia 928, a Verizon Wireless-bound variant of the Lumia 920 handset arriving this Thursday, May 16 for a mere $99 after $50 mail-in rebate with two-year agreement. The upgraded Windows Phone 8 handset finally brings Nokia's PureView camera to Verizon's 4G LTE network, complete with a $25 credit for Microsoft's app marketplace for a limited time.